Hm. NOAA is undertaking a mission to map out areas to claim in the American extended continental shelf. Of course, unless the U.S. ratifies the Law of the Sea convention, the mission's findings are absolutely worthless.

Also, a note to AHN writers and editors, who first broke this story: to say that "A new Cold War is brewing in the Arctic Circle" distorts the fact that the Law of the Sea, which the other four "combatants" in this "war" have already ratified, is specifically intended to peacefully settle competing claims and prevent conflicts over resources from turning violent. The metaphor is cute, but it's also inaccurate and alarmist.

Scott Paul